Sash balance



' Jan. 15, 1929.

J.P.APPLEBY SASH BALANCE Filed April 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Cab Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT omer.

JAMES E. AEPLEEY, or Los ANGELES, eALIEonNIA, Assreuon To ERAN): `GRAVES sAsH, noon pm MILL coMPANYt er Los ANGELES, CALIFQRNIA, A eonrommoir 0F CALIFORNIA.

snsH BALANCE.

Application led April 20, 1926, Serial No. 103,247'.`

This invention has to do with sash balances of the type embodyingr a s ring-actuated drum or pulley mounted Wit in a housing carried by a Window casing, there being a llexible, metallic. band Wound about the drum and extending* into connection with the Win doe sash. Y

y The general operation and utility of this type of balance, as Well as `its superiority over usual cord and weight balances, are Well known to those skilled in the art, and there fore call for no discussion here.

lt is among the objects of the present. invention to provide a balance `ol the abovedescribed type which sljiall have such stru@ tural characteristics that it may be manie taetured and installed with comparative ease and low cost.

It is a further object of the invention `to provide a novel, adjustable brake for sprinajactuated sash balances, Wl'rereby, though the potential tension of the actuating s ring is sutlicient to balance sash of relativeljy great- Weight, the effective tension of the spring may be reduced so it is adapted to balance sash of leeeer Weight. By reason of this provision, a given balance may be adjusted to take sz'lsh of different Weights,` thus `elimiiiating the necessity `of maluifactluing and stockingl a largo number of balances havlup; different` spring; characteristics. he economic advantage ot this is selevident.`

The structural eluuacteristies of the device, whereby the above resultsare obtained. may be discussed to better ad mntage in the tollowing` detailed description, wherein further objects and novel features et the invention will be made aguiarent. Reference will be had to "the accompanying drawings in W h iel1 F i151; l a side elevation of a balance e1n bodyingj my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan `vieu' ofFig. l

Fig. 3 is an elevation of Fig l, as iieu'ed from the right thereof;

d is a fragmentary elevation, similar in part, to Figure 3, but showing the sash supporting band and friction `brake omitted;

Fig. 5 is a section on line of Fig. il; Fi k6 is a section on line (-fG of Fig. 3;

p Fia. 7 is a detached elevation of the brake spring or lever;

Fig. S is a. sectionon line `ST8 of Fig. 6i; Fig. 9 is a section online 9-43 ol' Fig. A(3;

Fig. l0 is a developed View of an axle used 1n connection with the device. showing how this axle is made up of a flat metal sheet. i

In View otthe fact that the eveneral operation and mode oit' attachment ollspring actu-` ated sash balances are Well known to those skilled .in the art, I have omitted a showing oft the balance in mounted position; it

understood that housing 10 is inserted in a pocket at theside of a window casing (not shown) and that the `hook or attachment member ll at the end of sash supporting band l2 is adapted to be secured any suit* able manner to a vertically Inoyable Window sash (not shown). i

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, housing l() is made up ol a single sheet of metal, this sheet beingnr bent to provide an elongated tace plate or escutcheon 13 and a pair of spaced side plates '1.4 and 1 5 elftentjb imp at substantially rig-ht angles from `the face plate. Completing; nthe housing a shaped strap 1G, preferably made of somewhat springy metal so it need merely be cui to len gth and Width from flat stoel; and then sprung to shape at time of attachment.V The strap lits between side plates lll, loe retzjlinilng ears being;` bent angularly from the side plates and engaging the arcuate portion ol the etrap to hold its ends ll' in ccmtaet `with the rear side of plate. 13, Aand retaining ears `ll beinglient angularly from the side plates and overthe leg;l portions of the strapto hold them from springing out of position. It will be noted the strap substantially follows the outline of the side plates. Preferably, or projeetioini 18 are struck` inwardly from the side plates to preyent the leg' iortions ironi being' pressed inwardly too par, land With the lugs and ears 18 in "the opposed `relation shown, the ears and lugs are adapted to clamp the strap legs between them and insure the strap `against accidental dislodeement.

A spring-actudated drum Aor p u ley 19, is

mounted for rotation about la stationary axle `2O. the latter extendingr between and being terminally supported by side plates 14 and l5. I have shown an aigle which is particularly Well adapted for installation in the housinof 'a sash balance, and will proceed to describe it in ,SOnie detail, although it Will Abe understood that 'such claims as `do not speeifylt-his particular type ot axle are not to be construed as in any way limited by this description. The stock ot which the axle is inade consists oiI nietal stamping- 21 punched to the shape shown in Fig. 10 trein sheet steek. lhis stanipingl is substantially rectangular in oiitline7 the opposite edges being fashioned to 'provide spaced, opposed lugs The opposite edges 2l are notched partially alone; their longitudinal extent to provide :dined i'iotclies 25, so, when sheet is rolled to torni trie. tub lar, cylindrical axle 20, edges 2l are brought inte con brougiit into regi, and combine to forni a slot 2C (Fig. 9) whicu opens to one ond, only, ot the cylinder, und provides lor the reception. et anchor-end il? ot actuatingspring 2. lVliere edges Elli; are brought together there is provided. a continuous peripheral bearing tace to take the druin.

while notches are This rolling` of sheet V21 brine's lugs 23 into.

dianietiically opposite relation, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, the lugs being;l par through complementary apertures 28 in plates 14 and 15 and then spread or l naided over at 29 to hold the side plates separation and therefore hold the housing` and pulley in assembly, it being anderst ed that pulley 19 is slipped over the axle betere 1A- -.4:: i l. f'l the latter is inserted in the housing. lhis formation oit the axle is desirable in that it calls only loi a punching` and ieiiing operation as distinguished over the inoie cost-ly and ditlicult process of machining the from solid or tubular round stock.

The drum or pulley 19 is preferably cupshaped, the bottom 3G thereof being centrally punched and pressed in at 31 te provide for mounting` it rotatably upon axle 0.J at one side ot slot 26, the extent ot bearing' surface gained by the pressed in flange 3l being de, irable inasmuch as the cup-shape ot the drinn prevents it trein liaviiigbeati-i. on the axle near plate lll (Fig. Si). It will be noted that side plates 111 and 15 extend beyond the entire periphery of the drinn, und therefore no other housing' inoinbers ari iieigeessary to protect completely the sides el the drinn.

As mentioned above, one end ot actuating spring 2S is connected to axle Qt) at 2?. 'llie other end et spriiip` 28 is secured in any suitable manner to the annular druni portion et the pulley, for instance, by hooking end 83 ot 'the spring` over the iii-pressed lug 'lfl.

The flexible, inetallic band 12. nf'hich coinprises the connecting nieinber between bal-l ance and sash, is Wound about pulley 19, the inner end et the band being secured to the pulley iii any suitable manner, 'for imanesj by bending it about bar lreleral'ily, pulley 19 has an external {lange 3G to prevent the band from running ott the edge t7 nereof. `lace plate 13 has a horizontal or transverse slot 37 through which band 12 is Leones? adapted te be led trein pulley 19, the tace plate preferably being depressed or bent inwardly to provide a channel or groove 355 to guide the band. rlhe bottoni lace rl) ot the channel is preferably inclined, so, projecteth it is substantially tangential With respect to the pulley and merges into the 'if'ertical tace et the tace plate at ll0 ,so band 12 is not siarnly bent as it passes trein the pulley to the channel and troni the channel to the vertical tace et' enf-,uteheoii Bottoni 'tace 39 becoines, iii e 1 a liictioii 'tace which inclines downwardly and out ivt-rdly troni slot 3i', band 19 being adapted to be held between this lace and un adjustable bralte iiieinber ell, with Varying degree et pi'eii-'f'i'irej l "`reerably, the channel Zlll jacent slot 3"? provide a braille r Adjustable friction lai is widened adeceivin; e hl1 is disposed Within the housing, but is adji i able to vary its braking; el'l'eet by a control nieinber operable troni the ou side ot' the jv 1 i f 1 housiiie'. ino braiie ooi oi' a reverAH alliant' i 'eri e s it s ri iu i'liic i is )rim tf i t tiered t l i rw', il i" tulcruined intermediate its ends on a boss or lun' sill, which is pressed inwardly troni lace plate 123. ',l it portion lfl o'l the spring lever which extends below lirici-uni -lli conipr es the eline et the braliie and this shoe engages band 1Q Where it par` es through the bralte recess. The inclination el lare is such that the coiiibincd thickness et band 12 and shoe del, Where they lie. 'lozcijiithcr in recess fl-2, is less than the depth oit said recess7 it following that the shoe docs not projeetbeyond the ver al lacc et pl e 13 und therefore priA enteu :troni iii the .sash when the la@ er nio. lli. nl delini W ot recess l-?, hold shoe All against sluiting; laterally, and shoe preferably ol ai'iprecialiily greater than band 12 so orerlies both side edAV i i Y the band to hold it Within channel 38, :ivorconiinp; a y tendency the bund inay ha" to ride up the Slide Walls olf channel und beeoine curled along; .its ed ln ai'ljustable conne( ion lietviecii the up per end olf spring lever l und plate lil is iu-` dicalet generally at lhis conne( l i cons s oit a ccntroll' l' ot sereni' lli' which projects throuhujl lll in plate 137 the slotted head All) o 's sereni lying in counter sinh 50 el" the luce plate so is substantii'illy tiush vaitli the torn'ard lace of said plate, and its threaded sliaiil; Fil elif.- tending through aperture in prinu lci'ei Ill A nut :33 is threaded on th screw shenlr over spring.;` Ll1 and has side flanges lite c ons 5i (Wig. d) adapted to engage oppi to the slotted head et the screw, the nut is inoi'ed longitudinally along' the screw, the

lil

inherent spring characteristics of the lever tending always to hold head 49 within coun ter sinlt 50 since said spring is normally bent somewhat about fulcrum point 43. When screw 49 is rotated to move the nut, and hence the upper end of the spring lever, to wards plate 13, shoe 44 is pressed with greater torce against band l2 where the latter runs over the inclined friction tace, the shoe thus having the effect of reducing the effective, tension ot the spiral actuating spring 28 so the latter will balance a sash of rela-tively lighter weight thanbefore, Of course, by rotating screw 47 so nut 53 moves away trom the tace plate, the upper end ot the spring lever follows the nut, and screw 44 presses to a lesser extent on band 12, allowing the eti'ective tension ot the spiral actuating spring to approach its potential tension and there- .tore rendering it competent to balance a sash oit relatively greater weight.

It will be understood the drawings and description are to be considered merely as illustrative of and not restrictive on the broader claims appended hereto, for various changes in design, structure and arrangement may he made without departing from the spirit and scope ot said claims.

I claim:

l. In a sash balance, a housing having an elongated tace plate, a drum journaledwithin the housing, a flexible sash-supporting band connected to and wound about the drum, said plate having a transversely eX- tending slot through which the band is led from the drum, means adapted to revolve the drum to take up the flexible band, a friction tace on the face plate and inclining downwardly and outwardly from the slot and adapted to take the band when it leaves the slot, a brake member disposed within the housing and embodying a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends, the lever, j at one side ot its ulcrum, being adapted to engage the band where it runs over the inclined face, aud au adjustable connection between the housing and the lever, at the other side of .its ulcrum, whereby the lever is adapted to be moved about its fulcrum to engage the band with varying torce.

2. In a sash balance, a housing having an elongated tace plate, a drum journaled within the housing, a flexible sash-supporting band connected to and wound about the drum, said plate having a transversely eX- tending slot through which the band is led trom the drum, means adapted to revolve the drum to take up the flexible band, a friction tace on the face plate and inclining downwardly and outwardly from the slot and adapted to take the band when it leaves the slot, a brake member disposed within the housing and embodying a lever fulcrumed intermediate it-s ends on the faceplate, the lever, at one side of the fulcrum,

being adapted to engage the band where it runs over the inclined face, and an adjustable connection between the housing and the lever, at the other side of its fulcrum, whereby the lever is adapted to be `l'novedabout its iulcrum to engage the band with varying force.

3. In a sash balance, a housing having an elongated face plate, a drum journaled within the housing, a flexible sash-supporting band connected to and wound about the drum, said plate having a transversel extending slot through which the band 1s led from the drum, means adapted to revolve the d rum to take up the iexible band, a friction tace on the face plate and inclining downwardly and outwardlv from the slot and adapted to take the band when it leaves the slot, a brake member disposed within the housing and embodying a spring fulcrumed intermediate its ends, the spring, at one side ot' its tulcrum, being adapted to engage the band where it runs over the inclined face, and an adjustable connection between the housing and the spring, at the other side ot its tulcrum, whereby the spring is adapted to be moved about its fulcrum to engage the band with varying force; said adjustable connection embodying a screw extending through the :tace plate with its head at the outside of the plate and its shank extending through the spring, a nut threaded on the shank at the side of the spring opposite the face plate, and means adapted to hold the nut against rotation.

4. In a sash balance, a housing having an elongated face plate, a drum journaled within the housing, a iexible sash-supporting band connected to and wound about the drum, said plate having a transversely extending slot through which the band is led from the drum, mea-ns adapted to revolve the drum to take up the flexible band, a friction face on the face plate and inclining downwardly and outwardly fromthe slot and adapted to take the band when it leaves the slot, a brake member disposed within the housing and embodying a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends, the lever, at one side of its fulcrum, being adapt-ed to engage the band where it runs over the inclined face,

Vand an adjustable connection between the housing and the lever, at the other side of its fulcrum, whereby the lever is adapted to be moved about its fulcrum to engage the band with varying force; said adjustable connection embodying a screw extending through the face plate with its head at the connection embodying a screw extending through the lever, a nut threaded on the shank at the side of the springopposite the face plate, and means on the nut adapted to coact with the lever to hold the nut against rotation with respect to the screw.

5. In a brake for attachment to the face plate of a sash balance housing, a leveil ex tending Substantially parallel to and fuloilnnecl intermediate its ends on the face plate, L shoe portion on the lever et one side of its fulelum, and an adjustable connection between the pla-te and the lever at the other Side of its ulc'nm whereby the lever is Leegzv adapted to be movex"L about its fulcxum to shift the shoe pol-tion.

In Witness hat l claim the o'egong l 1n have hereunto subscribed my neme this 8th clay of April 1926.

JAMES i). APPLEBY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONN Patent No. 1,699,267. Granted January 15, 1929, to

JAMES P. APPLEBY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed ,specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 124, claim 4, strike out the words "connection embodying a screw" and insert-instead "outside of the plate and its shank"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of February, A. D.- 1.929.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

